All good choices. Anna Karenina is a bit dark. Although, it is one of those books I want to read before I die. I am just finishing up The Geography of Bliss and that is one of the best books I have ever read. It is hysterically funny.

Rune, the book is by a journalist who travelled to the happiest and least happy places in order to figure out what makes people happy and unhappy. He is very, very funny in places. The humor is dry but hysterical. However, the book is insightful and does give a balanced argument against the tyranny of positive thinking. Yes, thinking positive is good but the fact is folks are born with a set point. That is no longer disputed by rational folks and until there is greater neurological evidence, it won't be. There are survival advantates to not being positive all of the time. Also, it talks about real cultural differences that influence happiness. It does talk about real factors that do influence happiness but in a balanced way.

It is funny, well-written and insightful. It is a serious and respectfully considered topic viewed through an ironic lens.